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Mardigras Event Hire has joined forces with Road Safe HB and New Zealand Police to promote a safe social event. Event organisers are able to go online (www.partyregister .co.nz to register their party, when they have registered their social event the information is sent to Police. The benefits of registering a party are; they receive information on host responsibility including providing a sober driver for guests (fully licenced), or providing a place to stay over, non-alcohol refreshments etc. For Police it is beneficial to have all the contact details and who the event organiser is so they can speak to the person directly if something happens.

Upon registering an information pack is sent to the organiser with helpful information on event planning. We would like to thank Mardigras owner Greg and his staff for being part of this projects.

Resources

Youth Alcohol expo booklet2012

The Hawkes Bay Youth Alcohol Expo is a joint Project between Police, Road Safe Hawkes Bay and the HB District Health Board. The Expo has been running for two years and the planning is now underway for the Expo in 2013. The focus of the Expo is drugs and alcohol and the associated risks of driving impaired by either of these. The messages are hard hitting and realistic and provides a factual account of crashes and the effects it has on the occupants, families, rescue workers and the community as a whole.

The Expo is broken into two sections, firstly presentations include a ‘mothers story’ of how her son was critically injured in a high profile local crash and the ongoing effects of this. Other speakers include rescue workers and one of the other features is “Just Another Saturday Night”. Jared speaks of the life changing crash that he was involved in where two young men died and two critically injured. For further information I recommend you visit Jared’s website jaredsmessage.co.nz

Over 2500 students from the regions schools attend and also the general public. The Expo also features an interactive section. The students participate in activities that simulate either being impaired by drugs and alcohol and the impact this has on their ability to do small tasks in a controlled environment. The Expo is also supported by 18 stakeholders, these include the HB District Health Board Public Health Nurses, SADD, ACC, Fire & Ambulance service and other associated agencies.

The Expo is planned for May 13th-17th at the Pettigrew Green Arena, if you would like further information please contact me at linda.anderson@hbrc.govt.nz

Danny & Baillie's adventurous trip - the story of the super safety stars

The resource describes a trip that Danny and Baillie take with their mother and how the trip turns into an adventure when they come across a few children being unsafe on or near the road. The development included a large story book that can be read to audiences aged from 3-7yrs old. A CD has also been created in conjunction with Port Ahuriri School Choir and ukulele group. The song encourages children to be ‘super safety stars’ by staying in a booster seat until they are nine. The book has also been created into a smaller version that is given out to children at child restraint checking clinics or other education opportunities.

The resource was developed by Liz and Fiona who are the Road Safe Hawkes Bay child restraint educators. Liz and Fiona visit the regions playgroups, early childhood centre’s etc. If you would like to discuss any infant and child restraints problems or concerns or you would like to book an education session then please contact them on 027 674 8132 or email fionaw@hbrc.govt.nz.

'Just another saturday night' - jareds message

“Just Another Saturday Night” is a youth alcohol education resource that has been developed by Linda Anderson (Regional Manager Road Safe HB) and Senior Constable Iain Cheyne (Crash Analyst, Serious Crash Unit, Eastern Police). The DVD is a true account of an ordinary Saturday night when 4 young men went out drinking and driving and how it ended with catastrophic results when two of the young men died and two where critically injured. Jared is the survivor of the crash and he tells how this has left him permanently paralyzed and the effects it has on his day to day life.

The presentation is supported by Senior Constable Iain Cheyne who attended the crash. Iain remained in contact with Jared during the investigation of the crash and then after. Jared and Iain spoke about the opportunity of talking to schools about how things can change so quickly, thus the creation of “Just Another Saturday Night” began. The resource has been developed to be presented in a number of environments and also contains a section for parents. This includes how to start a conversation with a young person around road safety and promoting sober driving, also details of support agencies if they are concerned about their young person.